Kiev and Budapest have agreed to discuss the rights of Hungarian minorities in Transcarpathia, a positive step for Ukraine's candidacy for the European Union.

On Monday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced that Ukraine and Hungary have reached an agreement to hold discussions about the rights of Hungarian minorities in Ukraine. These discussions, which will begin on Tuesday, are seen as an important step towards a swift resolution of issues related to minority rights. The rights of Hungarian minorities have been an obstacle in Ukraine's candidacy for the European Union, with Budapest previously refusing to support this candidacy due to these issues.

Recent negotiations suggest an openness from Hungary to reach an agreement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Ukraine is optimistic regarding EU membership, aiming for the signing of an accession agreement in 2027. Although Budapest has blocked the opening of certain negotiation chapters, there is hope that the opposition will be lifted in June.

However, full membership remains a distant prospect, and divergences among EU member states persist regarding timelines. Orbán's government has refused to discuss Ukraine's candidacy, which has led to the absence of essential documents for the accession process. Efforts are being made to bring Budapest up to date before the next EU leaders' meeting on June 18-19.